Stewardships

Strenuous walking through sand, extremely early starts requiring alarm clocks to jangle at times like 3 a.m., and many hours of mist, rain and wind were rewarded with occasional alternate hours of glorious sun and views of pelicans, eagles, peregrine falcons, and a variety of shorebirds. Some of us were lucky enough to see Snowy Plovers, both adults and young fluff balls, north of the restoration area in the federal refuge.

In 2006 Columbia Land Trust (CLT), a not for profit conservation organization, approached the Willapa Hills Audubon Society (WHAS) to partner on the restoration and stewardship of the Nelson Creek property. The property is 180 acres (increased to 200 acres in 2008) located near Cathlamet, WA in Wahkiakum County. It is adjacent, across Highway 4, from the Julia Butler Hansen Columbia white-tailed deer Wildlife Refuge.